Overview
Both an underwater archaeological park and a protected marine area, the Gaiola Underwater Park combines history, culture and nature. The two islets known as Gaiola and connected by a slender bridge hide a wonder below the surface. Discover it by diving or cruising the bay in a boat with a glass bottom.
The park stretches from the village of Marechiaro to the Bay of Trentaremi, among rocky ridges, tuff cliffs and Mediterranean scrub. This place of rare beauty has been enchanting peoples for centuries since Roman times. From the 1st century BC, the Roman aristocracy built sumptuous villas here. The most important was Pausilypon, built by Publius Vedio Pollione and it later became the Imperial Villa.
Part of the villa is still visible on land, another part is submerged, like other remains from the same period: maritime villas, tuff quarries, piers, fishponds and nymphaea ended up underwater due to the volcanic phenomenon of bradyseism common in this area. Today, saraga, moray eels and damselfish roam among the ruins of a bygone era; octopuses hide and gorgonians grow, bringing life and colour back to the ancient remains.
